Car-diaphragm.



E. E. WHITMORE. GAR DIAPHRAGM.

APPLICATION FILED D30. 22, 1913.

1,095,760, I Patented May 5, 1914.

p I\ l 4 r I COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH CO-AVASHINGTON. D. c.

U1 ran srars EDWARD E. WHITMORE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THECURTAIN SUPPLY COMPANY, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A COBPORATIONYOF NEWJERSEY.

CAB-DIAPHRAGM.

the provision of an effective and economic. a connection between themeeting edges of the diaphragm plaits whereby the diaphragm constructionis stiffened vertically, laterally and longitudinally of the car againstany tendency to collapse and the fabric is protected against thedestructive efiect of the entrance of grit and water between the edgesof the plaits.

A further feature of the invention is the provision upon each side ofthe diaphragm of a vertically opening plait, the members of which arewhen closed housed within the protective binding strip and which are,whether open or closed, stiffened and guided against deformation. I

Uther advantages attendant upon distinctive features of the inventionwill be ren dered apparent from the following detailed description basedupon the accompanying drawings in both of which are set forth by way ofillustration only, a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings-Figure 1 is a side eleva-. tion of the diaphragm in itsclosed position; Fig. 2 is a similar View showing the open plait; Fig.3, is a longitudinal section through the top of the diaphragm; Fig. 4 isa fragmentary vertical longitudinal section through the meeting edges ofthe plait showing the hinged connection. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailcross sectional view of one of the separable fastenings; and Fig. 6 is asimilar view showing one ofthe permanent fastenings.

Herein the reference numeral 11 designates generally the end plate of acar between which and the face plate 12 of the car vestibule diaphragmis arranged the bellowslike plaits 13, 13 which may be of V-shape or U-shape in cross section, the latter being chosen for purposes ofillustration. The edges of the plaits'adjacent the end plait 1-1 and theface plait 12 are connected thereto respectively by angle bars 1 1 and15 overlying the edges of the plaits and rigidly fixed to the respectiveplaits by means of bolts or Specification of Letters Batent.

Application filed December 22, 1913.

Patented May 5, 1914.

Serial No. 808,112.

screws in the usual manner. The meeting edges 16, 16, of the two plaitsare provided with stiffening members 17 and 18 preferably of metal andarranged marginally upon opposite sides of the two edges of the plait.

The stiffening member 17 is advantageously and as shown in the form of aflat bar while the member 18 is in the form of an angle bar having aflange 18 which overlies the edges 16, 16 of the plaits and also theouter edge of the companion stiffening bar 17. The stiffening members 17and 18 throughout the height of the diaphragm and also across the top ofthe same and are preferably formed integral, except as hereinafterstated, so as to impart a considerable degree of rigidity against andoppose any tendency to collapse either in a vertical or lateraldirection. i

The two stiffening members 17 and 18 may be connected together andclamped upon the intervening edges 16 of the plaits throughout theirextent by means of permanently applied rivets 20, 20 or the stilleningmember 17 may upon each side of the diaphragm be formed in two parts,the lower part being hinged to the upper part at 21 so as to swingforwardly and in-a vertical plane in order to permit the face plate tobe tilted to give access to the bufling mechanism for repair orreplacement. In such case the connection between the stiffening members17 and 18 below the hinge 21 is effected by readily separable means suchfor instance as studs 22, 22, passing through apertures of the diaphragmplaits and provided with cotter pins 23, 23, the apertures in the fabricbeing protected by means of gromets 2 1, 24.

It will be observed that not only throughout the one piece portion ofthe stifiening members, but also including the hinged portion the edgesof the plait in both their open and closed position are stiflenedlaterally, vertically and longitudinally of the car, while in the closedposition of the hinged portion the edges of the plaits are protectedthroughout their extent by being housed within the flange 19 of thestifiening member 18, the hinged portion of the stiffening member 17swinging into and out of the extend housing formed by the flangedstiffening Cir elements and from entering dust, the meeting edges of theplaits are covered by a binding strip of flexible fabric such as canvas, pantasote, or leather, the application of the same necessitatingconsiderable expenditure of time in stitching by means of expensivemachines whereas by the present invention the edges are not onlyefficiently protected at a great saving in expense, but they are alsostiffened and the proper shape of the diapl'iragm is preserved thusimproving the appearance and increasing the life of the vestibulediaphragm construction.

I claim:

1. In a car diaphragm, a plurality of plaits, a substantially rigid bardisposed marginally of a plait on the opposite sides of the diaphragm,fastening means uniting the bars to the margin of the plaits, thefastening means between the lower portions of the bar and plait beingreadily releasable in a direction longitudinally of the car whereby topermit the separation and re-attachment of the walls of the plait,substantially as described.

2. In a car diaphragm, a plurality of plaits, a pair of substantiallyrigid bars disposed marginally on each side of the plait, and fasteningmeans uniting the bars upon the edges of the plait, one of the barsbeing in two parts hinged to swing longitudinally of the diaphragm thefastening means uniting the swinging portion of the hinged bar to thecompanion bar being readily separable, substantially as described.

3. In a car diaphragm, a plurality of plaits, a substai'itially rigidL-bar disposed marginally of the plait and fastening means uniting theedges of the plait and the bar, said bar having its flange overlying theedges of the plait at substantially right angles to the walls of theplait, substantially as described.

d. In a car diaphragm, a plurality of plaits, a pair of substantiallyrigid bars disposed marginally one on each side of the plait exterior,and fastening means uniting the bars and the edges of the plait, one ofsaid bars having a flange overlying the edges of the plait,substantially as described.

In a car diaphragm, a plurality of plaits, a pair of substantially rigidbars disposed marginally one on each side of the plait and the edge ofthe companion bar,

substantially as described.

6. In a car diaphragm, a plurality of plaits, a pair of substantiallyrigid bars disposed marginally one on each side of the plait, andfastening means uniting the bars upon the edges of the plait, one ofsaid bars having a flange overlying the edges of the plait, one of thebars being in two parts hinged to swing longitudinally of the diaphragm,the fastening means uniting the swinging portion of the hinged bar toits companion bar being readily separable, substantially as described.

7. In a car diaphragm, a plurality of plaits, a pair of substantiallyrigid bars disposed marginally one on each side of the plait, andfastening means uniting the bars upon the edges of the plait, one ofsaid bars having a flange overlying the edges of the plait and the edgeof the companion bar, one of the bars being in two parts hinged to sving longitudinally of the diaphragm, the fastening means uniting theswinging portion of the hinged bar to its companion bar being readilyseparable, substantially as de scribed.

8. In acar diaphragm, a plurality of plaits, a substantially rigid L-bardisposed marginally of the plaits and extending continuously across thetop and down each leg thereof, and fastening means uniting the bar uponthe margins of the plaits with its flange overlying the edges thereof,substair tially as described.

9. In a car diaphragm, a plurality of plaits, a pair of substantiallyrigid bars disposed marginally of the plaits one on each exterior sidethereof and extending con tinuously across the top and down each legthereof, and fastening means uniting the bars and the edges of theplaits, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

EDIVARD E. VVHITMORE.

Witnesses ALVAREZ A. Bamvns, I D. BUTLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Gommissioner of Patents, Washington, 1). G.

